BTS chose to make "Boy in Luv" their title track to display their manliness, and boy do they show it. The rock/hip-hop tune upholds their reputation of releasing unique songs, and is a breath of fresh air from the "sexy concept" making rounds through k-pop groups. The music video for "Boy In Luv" also showcases the group's great synchronization while dancing (although it gets a little weird when they begin to shove the girl around), and adds to the overall hardcore feel to the song.
"Boys In Luv" opens with a strong drum rhythm with the boys chanting over it (everyone loves chanting these days), followed by a strong guitar line that is prominent throughout the rest of the song. One thing I find unique about the instrumentation is that it doesn't differ very much throughout, but subtle changes in the rhythm keep it from becoming boring. The bridge has a softer feel compared to the verses and chorus, as the guitar line is taken out and a piano riff is added, adding a nice contrast to the edginess of the rest of the track.
The lack of variety in instrumentation, while not a bad thing, leaves a little to be desired. It changes up just enough to prevent listeners from becoming listless, but a little more diversity wouldn't hurt. The hard rock line emphasizes the members' rapping skills and the bridge brings out the group's vocals, all the while satisfying current BTS fans and garnering the interests' of new ones. 3.5/5
Donghae & Eunhyuk are back with their first full-length Japanese album. The album is titled Ride Me, with the title track being "Motorcycle". This track is a drastic difference from their Acoustic/R&B Korean track "아직도 난", but it works for them and helps showcase their versatility. The style of "Motorcycle is very quirky and may need some getting used to for some; but you can't resist listening to it on repeat until it grows on you.
The duo hinted at the song having a sexy style, but I think it's a mix between sexy, funky, and fun. The song starts out with a funky beat with the duo chanting, followed by the addition of catchy synths and a dance that's begging to be learned. A harmonica is thrown into the mix during the breakdown, furthering the quirkiness of the track. The beat slows down during the bridge in which their vocals are really showcased. Throughout the song, though, it seems as though Donghae's vocals are pushed to the forefront. Of course, Eunhyuk is mainly a rapper, but I think his voice is very interesting and could be utilized more. This could just be how it's represented in the short version, though.
After just releasing singles for so long, fans (including me) are ecstatic about Donghae & Eunhyuk's full-length album. I think making "Motorcycle" the title track was a good choice, as it definitely garners interest and keeps listeners waiting in anticipation for the album release. It might not be the best song musically, but I think the point of it is to be fun and something listeners won't get tired of listening to. 4/5
